§ 6. Mr. BRIGGSasked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the very definite statements current in the Press that the Weekly Summary is issued by the Government to the troops in Ireland, and that the said publication recently gave instructions that in the event of one member of His Majesty's Forces being killed two members of the Sinn Fein council in Cork would be killed, and if they were not available three sympathisers would be killed, and can he say whether such instructions were in fact issued?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs I have already stated in the House, the Weekly Summary is issued from the police headquarters, Dublin, to the police. It is not true that any instructions as mentioned have been given by that publication. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Weekly Summary in question.
§ Mr. WATERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman agree to a copy being placed in the Library for hon. Members to see for themselves?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODWith the greatest of pleasure.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon Gentleman's attention been called to No 15 of the Weekly Summary, in which is reproduced a resolution passed by the Anti-Sinn Fein Society in Cork to the effect that three other persons would be killed for every policeman murdered?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODMy hon. and gallant Friend has himself received every week a copy of the Weekly Summary.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY
No, I have not. That was promised, but I do not get it.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI will see that you do get it, and back numbers also. My answer is that no such instructions have been issued by the police or in the Weekly Summary.
§ Major MACKENZIE WOODWas this Resolution reproduced in the Weekly Summary, and for what reason?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe Resolution was first published in the "Morning Post" of London and a quotation from 241 the "Morning Post" and other London papers was printed in the Weekly Summary.
§ Major M. WOODFor what reason was it printed in the Weekly Summary?
§ Mr. W. THORNEIf this statement appeared in the Weekly Summary, what attitude is taken by the Government towards the people who print such statements?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIf a policeman disobeyed my instructions he would be dismissed on the spot.
§ Major M. WOODMay I have an answer to my question as to whether this Resolution was reproduced in the Weekly Summary?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODTo inform the police of the views of the Anti-Sinn Fein Society as quoted by the "Morning Post."
§ Major M. WOODIs that the view of the Government?